Cypher Group confirms 2011 F1 team bid

The American outfit Cypher Group on Thursday confirmed it is vying for the final place on the 2011 formula one grid.

A flutter of activity on Twitter earlier this week revealed that the hopeful outfit is in talks with 22-year-old Indy Lights driver and American Jonathan Summerton.

"They (Cypher) have applied and (I’m) pretty sure things are looking good," he said.

With the withdrawn application of the GP2 team ART, it is expected that Cypher is in contention for the 13th team place with Epsilon Euskadi and Stefan GP.

"We have officially submitted our candidature and hope that we will shortly be selected by the FIA as the 13th entry in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship. We aspire to bring America’s red, white, and blue back into formula one," said part of Cypher’s Thursday statement.

The group also confirmed that it will potentially collaborate with Summerton. "Jonathan is capable of racing against the top Formula 1 drivers and we hope to be able to give him a competitive car. We look forward to the opportunity of being on the starting grid in 2011."